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Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the best takeout dishes of all time, debate yo mama, not me! ๐Ÿ™‚ Hehe!

I love making this dish because its super easy, perfect for meal-prep and cheap to make!

Even though this recipes calls for a ton of spices, you’ll need minimal food ingredients!

If you love this recipe, try this One Pot Chicken & Spanish Rice, for another easy dish!

Find more recipes like this on my Instagram!

Why everyone loves Chicken Tikka Masala

  • It’s perfect for groups- I love making this for a crowd because its cheap, easy, and everyone loves it!
  • It’s packed with flavor- If you want to eat clean but don’t want to compromise flavor, this is the perfect dish! Indian food is delicious, and all of the spices make for a dish that’s unforgettable!

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Chicken thighs
  • Spices
  • Yogurt
  • Tomato Puree
  • Onion
  • Ginger

Substitutions and Variations for this Recipe

Certainly, here are three substitutions for a Tikka Masala recipe:

  1. Protein Swap:
  • Instead of chicken, you can use tofu, paneer (Indian cottage cheese), shrimp, or even vegetables like cauliflower or chickpeas for a vegetarian or vegan version.
  1. Dairy-Free Creaminess:
  • To make a dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream or a dairy-free yogurt alternative, such as coconut yogurt or almond yogurt. This modification maintains the creamy texture while keeping it lactose-free.
  1. Spice Level Adjustments:
  • Certainly, here are three substitutions for a Tikka Masala recipe:
  • Protein Swap:
  • Instead of chicken, you can use tofu, paneer (Indian cottage cheese), shrimp, or even vegetables like cauliflower or chickpeas for a vegetarian or vegan version.
  • Dairy-Free Creaminess:
  • To make a dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream or a dairy-free yogurt alternative, such as coconut yogurt or almond yogurt. This modification maintains the creamy texture while keeping it lactose-free.
  • Spice Level Adjustments:
  • Tikka Masala can be adjusted to your preferred level of spiciness. If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the amount of chili powder or use a mild curry powder blend. For extra heat, add more chili or even a touch of cayenne pepper. Customizing the spice level ensures it suits your taste buds.

Chicken Tikka Masala

5 from 3 votes
By Toni Chapman
Servings: 4
Easy, Chicken Tikka Masala
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Ingredients 

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs chopped into cubes
  • 1.5 tbsp masala seasoning
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 3/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsps ghee or butter
  • cilantro for garnish optional

Spices

  • 1 tbsp kashmiri chili substitute for red chili powder if needed
  • 2 tsps masala seasoning
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 cup water if needed
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Instructions 

  1. Start by adding spices and yogurt to chopped chicken cubes. Mix well and marinate for 1 hour, or up to overnight.
  2. In a large skillet, melt down ghee and add in chopped onion and ginger. Sautee until soft. Next, add in tomato puree and simmer. Toss in marinated chicken, mix well. And cook on low heat. Add in water, and cook for 15-25 minutes.
  3. Add in heavy cream at the end, and garnish with cilantro!

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Adela Prejean Waters says:

    5 stars
    Girl you are in my bookmarks to get to ez… Love this recipe!

  2. Amara says:

    5 stars
    This tastes just like my grandma’s recipe! Good job!

  3. Ashley says:

    5 stars
    This was sooooooooo good! Easily one of my favorite recipes of yours! It’s great as is but I may try to add bell peppers next time for a veggie kick!

  4. vorbelutrioperbir says:

    Real superb visual appeal on this website , I’d rate it 10 10.